THEBUSINESSBYTES
BUREAU
BHUBANESWAR,
OCTOBER 24, 2026
Union Minister for
Housing and Urban Affairs and Power Manohar Lal on Saturday called for
integrating urban mobility with city planning from the outset, saying efficient
and sustainable transport infrastructure is crucial to economic growth, planned
urbanisation and improved quality of life.
Addressing the
valedictory session of the 19th Urban Mobility India (UMI) Conference and
Exhibition 2026 here, the minister said cities must be designed around
citizens’ mobility needs, ensuring seamless and convenient access to
workplaces, educational institutions, hospitals and other essential services.
Outlining a vision
for India’s future urban transport systems, Lal identified three guiding
principles — Integration, Inclusiveness and Intelligence — and stressed the
need for seamless connectivity between transport modes, accessible facilities
for all sections of society and technology-driven improvements in public
transport efficiency and passenger safety.
“Integration” should ensure smooth
connectivity among metro rail, buses, railways and other transport services,
backed by effective first- and last-mile links, he said.
Emphasising
inclusiveness, the minister said urban transport systems must be safe,
accessible and convenient for women, senior citizens, persons with disabilities
and other commuters. The principle of intelligence, meanwhile, calls for
harnessing artificial intelligence and real-time data to improve traffic
management, optimise public transport operations and enhance passenger safety.
Highlighting the
rapid expansion of the country's urban transport network, Lal said the Centre
had approved nine metro projects covering approximately 174 km at a cost of
over Rs 59,000 crore since December 2025.
An additional 102 km
of metro network had become operational during the same period, taking India's
operational metro network to 1,185 km across 26 cities, he said.
Under the PM e-Bus
Sewa Scheme, 1,100 electric buses have commenced operations in 28 cities,
carrying an average of around 2.5 lakh passengers daily, the minister added.
He also highlighted
the Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Policy 2026 approved for Delhi in April,
which seeks to promote planned urban growth and affordable housing across
approximately 207 square kilometres along metro, Regional Rapid Transit System
(RRTS) and railway corridors.
Referring to the
conference's deliberations, Lal said 14 sessions were held over two days,
bringing together around 1,500 delegates and experts from India and abroad. A
total of 28 exhibitors showcased innovations and solutions in urban transport.
The discussions
reinforced the importance of embedding mobility considerations in urban
planning and using data generated through telecom networks, mobile applications
and digital platforms to support evidence-based decisions on metro, bus and
other transport services, he said.
Welcoming the
conference's emphasis on walking, cycling, people-centric streets and the
mobility needs of vulnerable commuters, the minister said urban development
must prioritise accessibility, safety and convenience rather than focus solely
on expanding transport infrastructure.
He urged state
governments, urban local bodies and other stakeholders to convert the
recommendations emerging from the conference into concrete action plans that
deliver tangible improvements in everyday commuting.
The two-day
conference, held on October 23 and 24, was organised by the Union Ministry of
Housing and Urban Affairs through the Institute of Urban Transport (India),
with support from the Odisha government.
Odisha Housing and Urban Development Minister Krushna Chandra Mahapatra, Additional Chief Secretary of the department Usha Padhee, senior officials, policymakers, urban transport experts and delegates from India and abroad attended the valedictory session.
Awards recognising excellence and best practices in urban transport were also presented at the concluding ceremony.
